Chapter 2 — GROUND — San Diego County Municipal Code

PERMITS*

*Cross reference(s)--Uniform licensing procedure, § 21.101 et seq.; licenses, business regulations and business taxes, Tit. 2.

SEC. 610.201. REQUIRED.¶

No person (either as owner, agent or otherwise) shall furnish, operate, conduct, maintain or otherwise engage in, or offer or profess to engage in ambulance service or critical care transport in the unincorporated areas of the County unless the person holds a currently valid Ambulance Provider's and/or Critical Care Transport Provider's Permit.

All non-local contracted providers must also be permitted by the County of San Diego and cannot provide transportation unless requested via mutual aid or for purposes of continuation of care.

(Added by Ord. No. 8192 (N.S.), effective 2-4-93; amended by Ord. No. 8787 (N.S.), effective 4-29-97; amended by Ord. No. 9668 (N.S.), effective 8-14-04; amended by Ord. No. 10274 (N.S.), effective 8-29-13; amended by Ord. No. 10927 (N.S.), effective 1-10-25)

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SEC. 610.202. APPLICATION -- FORMS.¶

Each application for an Ambulance Provider's and/or Critical Care Transport Provider's Permit shall be made upon forms prescribed by the County.

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SEC. 610.203. APPLICATION -- REQUIRED DATA.¶

Each applicant who desires an Ambulance Provider's and/or Critical Care Transport Provider's Permit shall submit the following data:

(a) Applicant's name and business address;

(b) The name(s) under which the applicant has engaged, does, or proposes to engage in ambulance service;

(c) The names and addresses of the applicant, registered owner(s), partner(s), officer(s), director(s) and all shareholders who hold or control 10% or more of the stock of the applicant;

(d) A statement of fact and good faith (one from principal owner and one from designated physician medical director if CCT service is provided);

(e) A copy of the designated physician medical director's State of California physician's/surgeon's license (only from CCT Provider);

(f) A statement of legal history, one each from the applicant, all registered owner(s), partner(s), officer(s), director(s), and controlling shareholder(s), including criminal convictions and civil judgments;

(g) An application for a criminal history report, one each from the applicant, all registered owner(s), partner(s), officer(s), director(s), and controlling shareholder(s);

(h) A resume specifying the education, training, and experience of the applicant in the care and transportation of patients;

(i) A description of the applicant's training and orientation programs for ambulance attendants, dispatchers, ambulance drivers, and maintenance staff;

(j) Evidence of insurance coverage as required by Sections 610.706, 610.707;

(k) A list of the full names and California physician and surgeon license numbers of all other physicians employed by provider;

(l) A list of the full names and California Registered Nurse license numbers including expiration dates of all registered nurses employed by the provider;

(m) A description of the locations from which ambulance services will be offered, noting the hours of operation;

(n) A description of the applicant's program for maintenance of the vehicles;

(o) A description of each ambulance including: the make, model, year of manufacture, mileage and vehicle identification number;

(p) A list of the full names of all ambulance drivers and attendants which identifies each persons' EMT certification number or paramedic license number and issuing jurisdiction, CPR Certification, California Driver's License, , and expiration date of each;

(q) For applicants that are privately owned ground ambulance companies, an affirmation that the applicant possesses and maintains currently valid California Highway Patrol Inspection Reports for each vehicle listed in the application, and a copy of the license issued by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol (in accordance with Section 2501 of the California Vehicle Code);

(r) The applicant may be required to submit such other information, as the Permit Officer deems necessary for determination of compliance with this Division.

(s) Proof of financial viability with ability to operate for a minimum of 6 months, with profit-loss information provided and proof of current tax payment status.

(Added by Ord. No. 8192 (N.S.), effective 2-4-93; amended by Ord. No. 8572 (N.S.), effective 9-14-95; amended by Ord. No. 8787 (N.S.), effective 4-29-97; amended by Ord. No. 9668 (N.S.), effective 8-14-04; amended by Ord. No. 10274 (N.S.), effective 8-29-13; amended by Ord. No. 10927 (N.S.), effective 1-10-25)

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SEC. 610.204. APPLICATION -- ISSUANCE.¶

Within 30 days of receipt of an application, the Permit Officer shall make a determination regarding the issuance of the

applied for permit.

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SEC. 610.205. APPLICATION -- DENIAL.¶

The Permit Officer may order the denial of an application for a permit or a renewal thereof if he/she finds:

(a) The applicant, or any partner, officer, director, representative or agent thereof has knowingly made a false, misleading or fraudulent statement of a material fact in the application or in any reports or other documents required to be filed with the Permit Officer pursuant to this Division;

(b) The applicant is not the legal owner or operator of the ambulance or critical care transport service;

(c) The applicant was previously the holder of a permit issued under this Division, which permit has been suspended or revoked and the terms or conditions of the suspension or revocation have not been fulfilled;

(d) The applicant has acted in the capacity of a permitted person or firm under this Division without having a valid permit therefor;

(e) The applicant has entered a plea of guilty to, or been found guilty of, or been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; or

(f) The applicant has violated any provisions of this Division or any provisions of any other ordinance or law relating to ambulance or critical care transport services.

The Permit Officer shall notify the applicant in writing of the denial within 30 days of the receipt of the completed application. Such notice shall be either sent by mail to the applicant's last address provided in the application or be personally delivered, and shall set forth the reasons for such denial of application. Whenever an application for a Permit is denied, the applicant may request a hearing from the Permit Officer. Such request shall be made in writing and filed with the Permit Officer within ten days of personal delivery of the notice of denial. If the notice of denial is mailed, applicant has an additional five days to file a hearing request. The hearing shall be held not more than 20 days from the date of receipt of said request for hearing and the Permit Officer should notify the applicant of the time and place of such hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in the manner prescribed in Title 1, Division 6, Chapter 1 of the San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances. The applicant shall also be entitled to the appeal provisions of Section 610.405 following the hearing before the Permit Officer. Upon denial of an application, re-application will not be considered until after a minimum of twelve months after the date of initial denial.

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SEC. 610.206. DECISIONS: FINALITY.¶

The decision of the Permit Officer rendered pursuant to this Chapter shall be final, unless an appeal is filed with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.

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SEC. 610.207. TERM.¶

Provider permits issued under this Division shall be valid for a period of one year unless earlier suspended, revoked or terminated.

(a) Vehicle permits shall expire concurrently with provider permit regardless of when the permit was issued.

(b) Partial year vehicle permits shall be issued for vehicles or aircraft put into operation within eleven months or less of current provider's permit expiration. Partial year vehicle permits will be issued at one twelfth the cost of a full year vehicle permit for each month remaining on the Ambulance Provider's Permit.

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SEC. 610.208. APPLICATION -- CHANGE OF NATURE OR SCOPE OPERATIONS.¶

Each applicant and Permit Owner shall report to the Permit Officer any change in the nature or scope of operations, including, but not limited to, changes in ownership, address, contact information, vehicle maintenance program, and any

significant training and orientation programs within ten days of the effective date of the change.

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SEC. 610.209. TRANSFER OF PROVIDER PERMIT.¶

A Provider's Permit may be transferred to another person, partnership, corporation, or other entity ("Permit Transferee"). If the Transferee is another San Diego County Permitted Provider, then the Transferee shall complete a Permit Transfer Form. If the Transferee is not another San Diego County Permitted Provider, then the Transferee shall complete a new application for an Ambulance Provider's Permit.

The Permit Transferee shall notify the Permit Officer of the transfer at least 30 days in advance of the effective date of such transfer. Within ten days of receipt of the notification, the Permit Officer shall deliver to the transferee a notice of requirement for either a new Permit Transfer Form or a new application for an Ambulance Provider's Permit. Each transferee who submits an application for an Ambulance Provider's Permit under this section shall submit the same required information as is also provided in section 610.203 of this document.

(a) In the event one permitted provider acquires the operations of another permitted provider, the acquiring provider shall submit to the Permit Officer within 30 days, a complete listing of all vehicles acquired or liquidated.

(b) Vehicles transferred from one permitted provider to another permitted provider as a consequence of a merger/acquisition, shall have the existing County EMS Office decal retired, removed and returned to the Permit Officer. Each vehicle shall be submitted for reinspection (fees prorated with respect to subsequent operator's permit cycle) and issued a new decal following reinspection by the Permit Officer, prior to being placed in service by the subsequent owner.

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SEC. 610.210. RENEWAL OF PERMIT.¶

Applicants for renewal of an Ambulance Provider's and/or Critical Care Transport Provider's Permit under this Division shall annually file with the Permit Officer an application in writing, on a form furnished by the Permit Officer, which shall include any changes in the information required in Section 610.203 hereof from the current application on file. The application for renewal shall be filed with the Permit Officer at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the current permit, and be accompanied by the appropriate renewal fee. Renewal of an Ambulance Provider's or Critical Care Transport Provider's Permit shall require conformance with all requirements of this Ordinance as upon issuance of an initial permit. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed as requiring the automatic renewal of a Permit upon its expiration and the burden of proof respecting compliance of all the requirements of this Division and of entitlement of a Permit shall be with the applicant for renewal.

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SEC. 610.211. TEMPORARY PERMIT.¶

The Permit Officer may authorize a temporary permit of up to 30 event days to a ground ambulance provider based outside the County, properly permitted in another county and properly licensed by the California Highway Patrol for special events. Temporary Permittees shall meet all requirements of this Division.

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SEC. 610.212. ABANDONMENT OF PROVIDER PERMIT.¶

Upon closure, sale or liquidation of business, provider shall remove all permit decals from vehicles and return the decals to the EMS Office within 30 days. Provider shall also return, within 30 days, all other County owned property (in good operating condition) issued or loaned to the provider or be liable for the cost of same.

(Added by Ord. No. 8572 (N.S.), effective 9-14-95; amended by Ord. No. 8787 (N.S.), effective 4-29-97; amended by Ord. No. 9668 (N.S.), effective 8-14-04; amended by Ord. No. 10274 (N.S.), effective 8-29-13; amended by Ord. No. 10927 (N.S.), effective 1-10-25)

Exceptions & meaning →